SDSS students help make Saugeen Shores more accessible

Thursday is Accessibility Awareness Day and it has special meaning for a number of students in Saugeen Shores.

The construction class at Saugeen District Secondary School teamed up with the town’s Accessibility Committee on a project called StopGap.

The program provides temporary ramps to businesses, allowing people with mobility devices to enter the buildings easier. The entrance to each participating business is measured and the ramp is designed to fit the space. The StopGap ramps are then built by the students.

The students and the Accessibility Advisory Committee have distributed the ramps to this year’s participating businesses just in time for Accessibility Awareness Day.

“The purpose of Accessibility Awareness Day is to get people talking, thinking and learning about accessibility and inclusion for people with different disabilities,” said Committee Chair Maureen Crawford. “We hope that in addition to doing their intended job, these ramps help remind everyone that accessibility is essential throughout our community.”

In the last three years, 20 businesses have joined the program and improved accessibility in Saugeen Shores.

“Working with the construction class means these teens are able to practice their skills while also learning about accessibility and the barriers people in our community face every day,” said Mayor Luke Charbonneau, a member of the Accessibility Committee.

The Town of Saugeen Shores’ Accessibility Advisory Committee provides guidance to Town facilities and parks, as well as businesses and special events, to identify and remove barriers in Saugeen Shores.